Knock-out switch



Patented Dec. 8, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROSCOE D. CONKLIN, OF RAHWAY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL PNEUMATIC COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA KNOCK-OUT SWITCH Application filed April 6,

This invention relates to the provision of a novel knock-out switch structure for electric engines.

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of a switch which may be used for breaking the circuit of an electric door operating engine at the end of the door travel.

Another obj ect of this invention is the provision of a switch which may be used for breaking the circuit on an electric door operating engine after movement of the door into opened or closed condition.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a knockout switch with means to provide, after the contact has initially been mally closed position.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention than those hereinabove mentioned will be specifically pointed out or will be apparent hereinafter in the course of the below detailed description of the form of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, as preferred ones of the various possible embodiments of the invention; it being understood, naturally that such forms are merely illustrative of some of the many possible combinations and arrangements of parts well calculated to attain the objects of the invention,and hence said detailed description of such form is not to be taken as at all times defining or limiting the invention itself. That is to say, the scope of protection contemplated is of course to be taken from the appended claims interpreted as broadly as is consistent with the prior art.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my novel switch structure;

Figure 2 is an elevational view thereof.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the 1929. Serial No. 352,965.

drawings. The invention resides substantiaL ly in the construction, combination, arrangement and relative location of parts, all as will be more fully indicated hereinafter.

It is the purpose of this invention to provide a switch that may be used for breaking the electric circuit on an electric door operating engine at the end of the travel of a railway car door, when said door has reached either end of its travel. One of the results accomplished by the novel structure hereinafter described in detail is the allowable overrun that this switch permits. In other words, the door motor is permitted to coast to a dead stop after the circuit is broken on the switch which carries the contact arm with it, said contact arm having been connected to said motor by means of mechanical levers, and to do so in such a fashion that no amming or damage results to any parts of the switch or mechanical levers. It is also the purpose of this invention to provide a switch accomplishing the foregoing objects which when opened or closed provides a rolling and sliding contact action which assists in keeping the contact surface clean. Although the switch will be hereinafter described as intended primarily for use with electric door operating engines, it is obvious that the structure disclosed permits of collateral use for other purposes, in any circuit where it may be desired to make and break the circuit rapidly with provision for a quick return of the return to a neutral position.

The engine on which the switch hereinafter described may be used is not shown inasmuch as said switch may be used with any standard type of prior art engine and the adoption of said switch to such an engine is but one use of such switch, many others which will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Referring specifically to the drawings, it will be'seen that 1 is a base of some suitable insulating material on which are mounted the contact members 2, 2 at either end thereof. Passing through said insulating base is the arm 3 which may be connected via a set of mechanical levers to a door operating engine (not shown). Vhen the lever 3' is pushed to the right contacts 3 and a mounted on the hinged arm 5 will be raised when slightly rolling or sliding contact, which as the portion 6 on the engaging lever 7 rotating about the center of the shaft 8 comes into contact with such arm. This breaks the contact at the two contact points 9 and 10. Le-

ver 6 has two arms projecting under hinged levers 5 and 11 .and will lift either 5 -or 11 according to the direction of rotationof the handle 3 on the shaft 8. If the arm 5 is lifted the arm ll apparently will remain stationary. The spring 12 tends to hold'the twocontact groups 3, 4, and 13, 1 1 Onto their respective contact points at all times except when the lever 3 is rotated to the right or left, according to the circuit it'is desired be broken. Contacts 3, 4, 18 and; 14: are-against their corresponding contact .points under the tension ofsprings-15 and the action produced thereby when a whole contact arm is raised or lowered by actuating the lever 3" is a sists in keeping the contact surface clean. The base las before specified is ofsome suit able insulatingmaterial and is provided with means, such as arms 16 in which are prelocatedholes 1-7, for mounting said'structure.

Mounted ineach ofthe arms 5 and 11 are pieces-of insulating material 18 adapted to insulate the lever. .3 which is connected via various levers back to the. door operating motor and toprevent possible short circuits due .to anyinadvertentgrounding efiects takingiplace. Bymeansof the provision of "the spring element 12 and the various spring elements 15 laccomplish what I call the over run feature which consists in permitting the motor to coast to a dead stop without any jamming-or breaking of parts after the contact has-been initially broken. This is attained by'the use of the hinged levers incoaction with the springs which permit ofsaid levers being raised to a suitable heigh against-pressure of the opening 12. r

it is obvious, due to the-construction'ofthis switch that pressure is taken away "from either side cfthe lever 3 the spring pressure 01 12 will return both sets of contacts "to a making position and levers 3 will assume a central or neutral position, asisshown in the drawings, Figs. '1 and2.

Inasmuch asmany changeslcouldbe made inthe above" constructions and many apparently widely difierent embodiments of the invention "could be made without departing from the scope th'ereof'it is'intended that all matter-'containedin the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not ina limiting sense. It is also to be understoodthat the language contained in the following: claims isintended to cover all the generic and-specilic features of the invention herein "described, and all "statements ofthe'scope of the invention, whichasmatter oflangu age or switch arms to normally close circuits through said contacts, means carried by said actuating arm for selectively effecting said switch arms and means providing a wiping and rolling action on the opening or closing of said circuits. r

2. The structure recited in claim 1, charvacterized in this, namely that two arms carried by said actuating arms PIOJQC'D under hingedlevers and are adapted to lift said hinged levers according "to the direction of rotation of the actuating' contacts.

3. 1n a'switchan insulating body, a pivot, aplurality of levers pivoted-on said pivot-and an actuating arm ,pivoted thereon and projecting through the insulating body, contact elements mounted on said body, means carried by said arm to actuate said levers, contact arms carried by said levers, and means tending to normally force said contact arms into contact with said contact elements.

In a switch an insulating body, a pivoted actuating arm projecting therethrough, contact -elements mounted on said body, hinged levers having a common pivot'mounted on said body,means carried by saidarm to actuate said levers, contacts arms i carried by said levers, and means carried by said contact arms and hinged levers to provideawiparm to actuate said ing and rolling action by the contact-elements on openingofthe contacts.

5. In a switchan insulatingbody, a pivoted actuating arm projecting therethrough, con.- tact elements mounted :on said body, hinged levers mounted onsaid body, means carried by said arm to alternately actuatesaid levers, bridging contact arms carried by said levers and means including "a single resilient elementcarried by said levers tending to normally force said contact arms into contact withfth'e' contact elements. 7 g

6. *In'a switch an insulating body, a pivoted .a'ctuating ar'm projecting therethrough, con-tact element-s mounted on said body, hinged levers mounted on said body, -means carried by said armtc alternately selectively actuate said levers, bridging contact arms carrledby said levers, resilient means-carried by sald levers tending tonormally force said contact arms and hirigedde'vereto provide a'wiping and rolling-action at'the contact elements on opening of the contacts.

7. "In switc l'i substantially of the type describcdaplu'rality o'fcontact arms having a common pivon'a plurality of contacts, means tending to normally force said arms into contact with said contacts to close a plurality of circuits, means including a rotatable mounted lever to alternately open one set of said contacts, and means to provide a sliding and wiping action upon operation of said contact operating means.

8. In a switch substantially of the type described two sets of bridging contact arms. means tending to normally bring both sets of bridging contact arms into contact with their respective contacts, and means including a rotatable lever and a cam shaft element to selectively open one of said sets of contacts.

9. In a switch substantially of the type described a plurality of contacts, a plurality of contact arms, a single spring tending to normally cause said contact arms to contact with said contacts, hinged levers on which said contact arms are mounted, an actuating lever, means carried by said actuating lever to actuate said hinged levers to selectively lift said contact arms.

10. In a structure substantially of the type described an insulating member, an actuating arm projecting therethrough, two sets of hinged levers mounted on a common pivot thereon, a plurality of contact elements mounted thereon, contact arms carried by said hinged levers, and means carried by said actuating arm to selectively actuate a single one of said sets of hinged levers.

11. The structure recited in claim 10 characterized in that resilient means are carried by said contact arms and hinged levers to provide a sliding, rolling and wiping action upon opening of the contacts.

12. In a switch structure substantially of the type described, a plurality of sets of bridging contact arms adapted to quick operation, a plurality of contacts, means tending to normally close said contact arms on said contacts, means adapted to selectively open electric circuits connected to each set of contact arms, and means including a resilient element to provide a wiping and rolling ac tion at the contacts upon the opening and closing thereof.

13. The structure recited in claim 12 in that the contact arms are selectively actuated by an actuating arm mounted on and projecting through an insulating base, which arm carries a cam shaft member.

14. In a switch structure substantially of the type described, an insulating base, a plurality of contacts mounted thereon, a rotatable actuating lever mounted on and projecting through said base, a plurality of hinged levers having a common pivot and adapted to actuation by said arm, means carried by said actuating arm to selectively actuate said levers, contact arms carried by said hinged levers which are adapted to contact with said contact elements, and means tending to nor- 

